A generous £2,500 donation from JCB has breathed life into plans to hold a community arts festival in Rocester this May.
The Ryecroft Summer Arts Festival aims to support local acts and local people and although it will be held at Ryecroft Middle School on May 18, organisers are keen to stress that it’s an event to celebrate the whole community.
Ryecroft parent and Chairperson of the Summer Arts Festival committee, Kevin Bussey came up with the idea for the festival to give people with a broad range of talent a stage upon which they could perform.
Liz Ratcliffe, Parent Governor at Ryecroft, said: “There’s so much scope for local people to take the stage, no matter what their talent may be. We have a strong relationship with JCB and this is their latest show of generosity.”
Thanks to JCB’s donation the event will be free to all visitors as it looks to establish itself an annual event in the Rocester calendar.
Sharon Farnell, Parish Clerk at Rocester Parish Council, said: “Ryecroft approached us with the festival idea and the parish council agreed that I contact JCB for funding. I knew they would be receptive to the idea of a festival to celebrate the local community.”
The festival has not released a running order, but has confirmed that an open-mike stage will be central to the fun, as well as local bands and entertainment.